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Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Best Zoos & Aquariums on World Penguin Day

Today is World Penguin Day!

Show your love for our favorite tuxedo-ed friends by supporting a highly-rated zoo or aquarium known for its penguin conservation. Find a few of them here or use Charity Navigator to find an organization near you.

Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle, WA)☆☆☆Inspiring people to learn, care and actWoodland Park Zoo saves animals and their habitats through conservation leadership and engaging experiences, inspiring people to learn, care and act. Among its distinctions, Woodland Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos on the West Coast. For more than 100 years, Woodland Park Zoo has been a cherished community resource and a unique urban oasis. Generations of Puget Sound families have come to the zoo to marvel at the animals and be inspired by the peaceful and beautiful surroundings. Woodland Park Zoo encompasses 92 acres and features more than 1,090 individual animals representing nearly 300 species. The grounds are divided into what are known as bioclimatic zones, the unique habitats around the world, from tropical rain forests to the frigid climes of the Far North.Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, CA)☆☆☆☆ + ImpactInspiring conservation of the oceansOpened in 1984, the Monterey Bay Aquarium's mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. We know that bringing people face-to-face with living marine animals is a powerful way to move them to care about the oceans and ocean life. From the beginning, we planned our permanent exhibits as a walk through Monterey Bay's beautiful natural communities. In 1996, we almost doubled our exhibit space with the opening of the Outer Bay Wing, devoted to the open ocean and deep sea. The main feature is the Outer Bay Waters exhibit, the one-million-gallon tank containing tuna, sharks and sea turtles. The aquarium has an active research program. We have groups working on sea otter conservation and tuna conservation biology. About 1.8 million people visit us each year.Indianapolis Zoo (Indianapolis, IN)☆☆☆☆ + ImpactEngage, enlighten, and empowerThe mission of the Indianapolis Zoo is to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. To this end, we see ourselves as a conservation organization that operates a zoo as a key engagement and outreach strategy. The Zoo provides engaging exhibits throughout five biomes (Oceans, Deserts, Forests, Plains and Encounters). Each new exhibit is designed to provide an up-close encounter with the animal, and information that will enlighten guests about current conservation issues, empowering them to take personal action.Oregon Zoo Foundation (Portland, OR)☆☆☆ + ImpactAmplifying the Oregon Zoo’s accomplishments in conservation, education and animal welfareThe mission of the Oregon Zoo Foundation (OZF) is to foster community pride and involvement in the Oregon Zoo and to secure financial support for the zoo's conservation, education and animal welfare programs. By amplifying the zoo's accomplishments, OZF ignites interest and investment in creating a better future for wildlife. OZF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization led by a volunteer Board of Trustees comprising Oregon business and community leaders. Under the coordination of the OZF Director, income generating activities include fundraising, grant writing, sponsorship and the administration and cultivation of more than 45,000 member households. Since 1997, OZF has contributed over $48M to the Oregon Zoo.St. Louis Zoo Association (St. Louis, MO)☆☆☆☆Supporting and enhancing zoological programs, research and institutions in the St. Louis RegionThe St. Louis Zoo Foundation was established in 1995 support and enhance zoological programs, research and institutions in the Saint Louis region and throughout Missouri by providing facilities, funds and advice. The Foundation provides direct financial support to the Saint Louis Zoo for renovations, and administers fundraising campaigns for the zoo. The Saint Louis Zoo's mission is to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, and educational programs that encourage the support and enrich the experience of the public.You can use Charity Navigator to find even more zoos and aquariums to support on World Penguin Day and throughout the year.